The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) organised a protest in Delhi on October 10, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Ahead of the demonstration, Delhi Police detained several political leaders and activists as they attempted to march towards Jantar Mantar.

The detained leaders include former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, five Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal was also allegedly manhandled during the police action, according to reports.

Authorities had also tightened security across the national capital, with entry and exit gates at several Metro stations closed and traffic restrictions imposed to maintain law and order

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Mamata Banerjee, 5 TMC MPs Taken Away In Prisoner Van

Mamata Banerjee and five TMC MPs were detained by Delhi Police near South Avenue. The MPs accompanying her included Derek O’Brien, Dola Sen, Pratima Mondal, Samirul Islam and Saket Gokhale.

The party said the delegation was taken to an undisclosed location in a prisoner van. 

“Along with our 5 MPs, we have started our dharna at Dwarka North PS where we have been brought. We were kidnapped and driven around in a prison van for two hours. I am not returning to Kolkata tonight and in protest against all that is happening today against  the youth and all, I will join the I.N.D.I.A march on Monday,” Mamata Banerjee said.

The detention took place amid heightened security arrangements in central Delhi ahead of the CJP-led demonstration.

Arvind Kejriwal, Senior AAP Leaders Detained

Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal was also detained amid the protest. AAP leaders alleged that Kejriwal was manhandled during the police action.

Senior party leaders Saurabh Bhardwaj and Sanjay Singh were also among those detained. The AAP has criticised the Election Commission over the SIR exercise and supported calls for Kumar’s resignation.

Dipankar Bhattacharya, Yogendra Yadav Among Others Detained

Several other political leaders and activists were detained as police prevented protesters from marching towards the demonstration site.

CPI(ML) Liberation General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora, activist Yogendra Yadav and senior advocate Prashant Bhushan were detained near INA Market in Delhi.

Keralam Former CM Detained

CPI(M) leaders, including former Keralam Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas, were also reported to have been detained during the protests.

Meanwhile, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and other party leaders were detained after arriving at Indira Gandhi International Airport. YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was also reported to have been detained from his residence in Gurugram ahead of the demonstration.

In Mumbai, Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, was detained by police while reportedly on his way to August Kranti Maidan to support the protest.

Manik Sarkar Detained During CJP Protest

Former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar was detained by Delhi Police on Saturday while joining the protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstration, organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), called for Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Over 3,000 Protesters Detained, Metro Restrictions Imposed

Around 3,000 protesters had been detained across Delhi by Saturday, according to PTI reports citing Delhi Police sources. Police personnel were deployed at several locations, with barricades erected to prevent demonstrators from reaching Jantar Mantar.

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As part of the security arrangements, entry and exit gates at several Metro stations were closed. Traffic restrictions were also imposed in parts of central Delhi, while restrictions on train services and mobile internet were reported in connection with the security measures.

Why Is CJP Demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation?

The CJP-led protest was organised to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls.

Opposition leaders and activists have raised concerns about voter deletions and the potential exclusion of eligible voters during the revision exercise. The Election Commission has defended the SIR as a process to verify electoral rolls and identify ineligible or duplicate entries.

The protest brought together opposition leaders, political activists and public figures, several of whom were detained as police enforced security restrictions across the capital.


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